2018. We looked forward to a bountiful harvest eventually. “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The New Testament invites the repentant disciple of Christ to live as a new person according to this law of love (see Rom. THOU SHALT NOT STEAL: WHAT CHURCHES NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COPYRIGHTS By Timothy Atkins I. Photo Courtesy: ©Getty Images/MangoStar_Studio, This form of theft includes anything from copying software or films, to downloading music and movies without paying for them, to stealing a person’s words (plagiarism). Exodus 20:15-17 King James Version (KJV) 15 Thou shalt not steal. Stealing a life, a person, a spouse, material property, intellectual property, a reputation, dignity, or trust: there is hardly any aspect of human life not harmed—sometimes irreparably—by stealing. Giving false testimony is stealing justice. Directed by Andy Ackerman. “You shall not steal” ( Exodus 20:15) is one of the Ten Commandments people can readily recall, even though it is number eight in the Decalogue. The thief overlooks his divine potential, as well as all of the blessings awaiting the obedient, and forfeits them for mortal gain. 3:8, emphasis added) in speaking of those who did not pay their offerings to the Father who gave them everything. Second, the eighth commandment shows us that the source of the right to private ownership of property is neither mortals nor the state, but God. Paul of … That reason is: corruption. God enthroned his children when he gave to them, through Adam, dominion over the earth. But such a condition of things has never yet been realised in practice. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or … 10–13. The earth belongs to him, and he has determined that humankind will share in it. The Eighth Commandment, “Do not Steal,” is unique in that it encompasses all the other commandments on the second tablet: Murder is the stealing of another person’s life. The sentence “Thou shalt not steal” (Ex. 4 Apr. The act of stealing a person’s dignity is known as humiliation. The most common thou shalt not steal material is ceramic. Well could the prophet Amos say of his people that “they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes,” and in their exaggerated greediness panted after the very dust that clung to the heads of the poor (Amos 2:6–7). The Greek word translated as “perfect” means to be whole or complete. When my student, a business major, began working for his father, he learned that his parents had paid off all the debts from the earlier business failure, even though the debts had been canceled under bankruptcy laws. “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matt. Stealing violates a prime law of heaven that directs humankind to subdue the earth and have dominion over the animal kingdom under God—that is, according to our Heavenly Father’s dictates. They understand fairness very well. Is there anything I am doing—or something I am failing to do—that robs God or those around me? Thou shalt not commit adultery. And humiliating people, especially in public, can do permanent damage, given that dignity may be the most precious thing we own. God commanded, “Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him” (Lev. Article Images Copyright © 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. When the Savior came, he established again the higher law of his kingdom: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. If we are wise, we will love people and use things, as our Father intended. 20:15) includes no object. Has … The Eight Commandment–“Thou Shalt Not Steal” Read More » It certainly involves having integrity. Certainly, it is not difficult, just as it is not really difficult to obey all the Ten Commandments, if one genuinely wishes to do so. Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982), p. 193. So his father and mother had joined as a team to pay what they felt they owed, and they as well as their family had been blessed. Third, anyone who steals acts against God. This was distressing for the family, especially for the father, but he promised that it would be for a short time only. Anyone who steals violates the sanctity of God’s divine order and design for every individual person. And coveting is the desire to steal what belongs to another person. Klepto, like the Hebrew ganav, carries the idea of taking secretly and craftily that which rightfully belongs to another. Its prohibition is broad and unconditional: you shall not steal anything. 6:4; Heb. The awful idea Satan taught Cain was how to turn human life into property, how to make a child of God less than chattel. He is conscious of his covenant relationship with the Lord and chooses to sustain it. Another example would be when someone deceives another person with insincere proclamations of love in order to obtain material or sexual favors. Dale Patrick, Old Testament Law (Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1985), pp. The sentence “Thou shalt not steal” includes no object. King David realized this and declared, in reference to his having stolen another man’s wife and then having him killed, “Against thee … have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight” (Ps. First, the commandment establishes the right to private ownership of property, thus protecting a necessary area of responsibility in life. Gadianton epitomizes the process. Proud member This renewal should influence our whole view of our duty toward others and our capacity to serve them and the Lord. It means we cannot take anything that belongs to another person. Unless he repents, he robs himself of eternal life. thou shalt not The lens of the Seventh Commandment focuses these considerations on our relations and dealings with one another. 5:48). . Adultery is the stealing of another person’s spouse. These secrets were passed from one generation to the next. by Joshua Shepherd "The True British Tar." For a discussion of this principle, see Rousas John Rushdoony, Institutes of Biblical Law, pp. Stealing, like any other willful violation of his commandments, keeps one from working toward being whole, or “perfect.”. The eighth commandment—“You shall not steal” (Ex. The Eighth Commandment, “Do not Steal,” is unique in that it encompasses all the other commandments on the second tablet: Murder is the stealing of another person’s life. Adultery is the stealing of another person’s spouse. The most popular color? . 24:10), hopeless tasks (Prov. Because it looked so worn and contained little of material value, he had thought it would be safe, but he was wrong. They felt that morally they owed those debts and that to do anything less than paying them would be stealing. When my young friend questioned the wisdom of paying debts that had been legally canceled, his father explained that although he realized that many honest people are unable to pay legally cancelled debts, he felt that his situation might allow him to pay his debts over a long period. The themes here are excellent ones to use in your [tag]Sunday school[/tag] lesson to teach this Commandment. Embezzlement and misappropriation serve as good examples of this form of theft. Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969), p. 99. I was touched later when he shared his disappointment and sorrow at the loss. It has been shown over and over that private property, beginning with land ownership, is indispensable to creating a free and decent society. Arriving later than expected for a speaking engagement in a large city, he had parked on a small side street some distance from the lecture hall. Terms like deceive, cheat, and bewitched by flattery all fit the methodology of the thief. The Septuagint—the Greek version of the Old Testament—translated the Hebrew with the Greek klepto, from which we get kleptomaniac. 24:12); love is not so lightly quieted—nor is the God of love.”2 In a discussion of sins of omission, Elder Spencer W. Kimball, then of the Quorum of the Twelve, added his witness: “Not only shall we not steal, but we shall protect others’ possessions.”3. 19:13). Working hard, his father developed a new business that promised eventual returns but provided scant income for the family in the beginning. Thou shalt not kill. Salem Media Group. While he was growing up, his father’s business had failed. Saying “Stop, thief!” is totally appropriate. Exodus 21:16 He that shall steal a man, and sell him, being convicted of the guilt, shall be put to death.. Leviticus 6:1-7 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: . He was also placed on a bond […] Thus, the breaking of any earthly laws based on his commandments—laws focusing on individuals, family, property, capital, labor, state, or church—is an act against our Father. A 42-year-old man was ordered to hold a sign stating, “Thou Shall Not Steal,” for three days in front of the Besson Street Police Station. On a spring morning some years ago, my wife and I planted a little cherry tree on a sunny corner of our lot. . This commandment is unique in another way: It is the only completely open-ended commandment. Thou Shalt Not Steal: Plunder, Theft, and Sticky Fingers. 21:16).1, The breadth of the commandment implies also that a person must not rob another through neglect. And lest there be any confusion about this issue, the very next chapter of the Torah specifies a person who kidnaps another—particularly when done with the intention of selling the victim into slavery - “shall be put to death.” (Exodus 21:16). Stealing is a very serious issue when it comes to the heart of a loving God. Since all divine law originates in him, any offense against that law is an offense against him. Moreover, our forsaking of past sins and our desire to follow the Master’s example should make us aware of the need for the highest moral standards in our everyday obligations. . Copyright © 2021, Bible Study Tools. “This is the first and great commandment. And Malachi asked pointedly, “Will a man rob God?” (Mal. Above: The Ten Commandments, by Ted Henninger. I. 22:37–40). Another enormously important meaning of the commandment against stealing concerns stealing the many non-material things each person owns: his or her reputation, dignity, trust, and intellectual property. Amazingly, at least in America, people actually admit it. Thou shalt not steal (Exodus 20:15). Kidnapping people and selling them into slavery, as was done to Africans and others throughout history, is forbidden by the Eighth Commandment. Directed by Leo Penn. Critics of the Bible who argue the Bible allowed such slavery, and defenders of such slavery who used the Bible, were both wrong. In doing so, he granted to them freedom to produce and enjoy the fruit of their individual labors. Al Hunter Jr. Thou Shalt Not Steal: The Baseball Life and Times of a Rifle-Armed Negro League Catcher Paperback – December 16, 2011 by Bill "Ready" Cash (Author), Al Hunter Jr. (Author) 10:19–24). 51:4).5. One scholar, reviewing those three verses in Proverbs, commented: “It is the hireling, not the true shepherd who will plead bad conditions (Prov. They have wanted to take jurisdiction over the earth and its people—to steal from humankind, rob the animal kingdom, and plunder the earth—without the restraining hand of their Creator and Lawgiver. Stephen Williams, of Ethel Street, St James, was given the order when he appeared before a Port-of-Spain Magistrate yesterday charged with attempted robbery. And while there may be those who attempt to undermine the authority of the Ten Commandments by suggesting it is part of the Old Covenant, our Lord Jesus, speaking to the rich young ruler, quoted five of them, including this one ( … The eighth commandment prohibits theft in all of its forms. That old briefcase contained the results of hundreds of miles of travel, the fruits of a few thousand dollars in grant money, the product of months of careful research, analysis, study, pondering, and writing. And in the ancient and medieval worlds, almost no one had property rights: a few rich people owned all the land. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image… Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. This system gradually became the dominant force among the Nephites and contributed directly to the demise of that nation (Hel. He or she has stolen from the person knowledge about their true intentions. Immorality occurs when we love things and use people. 20:15)—seems straightforward on the surface. It was based on the story Le Dossier n° 113 by Émile Gaboriau All of these are directly related, and theft is the common link; murder is unlawful taking of life, adultery concerns the taking of virtue, and false swearing usually is involved in the taking of reputation, property, or goods. Satanically inspired people invented systems that would assist them in their theft of God’s realm. God wants that right honoured and protected. In a major moral statement emphasizing how right and important it is to cite the source of an idea or a quote, the Mishna says, “A person who quotes a statement in the name of the person who stated it brings redemption to the world.”. 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. The Eighth Commandment safeguards everyone's right to legitimately acquire and own property. Ms. Holt's interfering mother comes for an annoying visit. President Gordon B. Hinckley: An Anchor of Faith, President Thomas S. Monson: Finishing the Course, Keeping the Faith, Learning from the Scriptures: A Lifelong Pursuit, Commemoration of the Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Bountiful Temple Open House, Dedication Dates Set, “Thou Shalt Not Steal,” Ensign, Sept. 1994, 25. Why would this act “bring redemption to the world”? Catholics and Lutherans believe that this is the seventh commandment. Kids are known for saying, “not fair!” when they see an injustice. In a moment his fear was confirmed; someone had stolen his briefcase. God, in these verses condemns it and declares it to be a sin. “And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth” (Gen. 6:12). Exodus 20:15, KJV When an unemployed father steals to provide for his hungry children, you can at least understand the motive; but what do you say when a woman is caught shoplifting who could afford to buy the store? Conversely, when we do not cite the source of a quote—or idea, or a humorous line—we are stealing that quote or idea from the person who came up with it. 4.5 out of 5 stars (257) $ 9.99. Thou shalt not steal. Did you scroll all this way to get facts about thou shalt not steal? He, as the sovereign Lord, creator of heaven and earth, sets the laws that govern his kingdom (see D&C 88:34–42). As soon as he saw the broken window on the passenger side of the car, he felt sick. Often that is the way it is with theft—more is stolen than material goods. We must insist that “Thou Shalt Not Steal” be the byword in counting the votes. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. But too often people cannot overcome their desires to possess or control the few material goods others have. However, each must do so according to the Lord’s divine laws. Virtually every society in history, and most societies in the world today— certainly non-democratic ones—were and are filled with corruption. 15 “You shall not steal. That is one reason no one with even an elementary understanding of the Eighth Commandment could ever use the Bible to justify the most common manner by which people became enslaved: kidnapping. Richard D. Draper is an associate professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University and second counselor in the Young Men presidency of the Lindon Second Ward, Lindon Utah Stake. Through the power of the devil, evil leaders who “sought power to gain power, and to murder, and to plunder” (Ether 8:16) administered evil oaths unto the people, binding them to act together in wickedness. Our Father has commanded us, through his Son: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. Favorite Add to Softball Thou Shall Not Steal Raglan Baseball T Shirt Youth S-XL, Adult S-2XL FREE Name on Back SayItWithSassRoxboro. One of the ironies and tragedies of the last days is that people will go through appalling, self-inflicted destructions and, as John says in the Revelation, they will not repent “of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts” (Rev. To avoid carrying his heavily loaded attaché case, he had removed his lecture notes and left the battered case on the car seat. The student’s mother had gone to work too. The next morning, however, my wife stepped outside for a few moments and came back with a look of astonishment. But that will surely change after reading Bill's lively, award-winning autobiography, Thou Shalt Not Steal: The Baseball Life and Times of a Rifle-Armed Negro League Catcher (Love Eagle Books). Of course, the most obvious meaning of the Eighth Commandment is a prohibition against stealing property—and that, in turn, means God sanctifies personal property. God’s charge to Israel in this commandment is direct and forceful in the Hebrew language: lo tegnav, “you shall not steal.” Tegnav comes from the root word ganav, which means “to be a thief” or “to steal.” This word, by implication, suggests deceit and stealth. Our Father in Heaven is complete; he has full integrity. I have wondered if the person who took that tree gave any thought to the spiritual price he might have to pay for it. All rights reserved. Exodus 20:15-17 English Standard Version (ESV). Thus, for the Lord, stealing also includes robbing, looting, plundering, and other unlawful seizures. But anything we do that does not shape a godlike nature within us violates what we are, our real selves—our eternal kinship to our Heavenly Father. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is … While we did not lose much in terms of money, we lost all of the time involved in preparing the spot, buying the tree, and planting it. The emphasis is on one’s own labor; Adam learned “to eat his bread by the sweat of his brow,” not by the sweat of someone else’s, “and Eve, also, his wife, did labor with him” (Moses 5:1; emphasis added). This commandment is unique in another way: It is the … Throughout history, the Lord has attempted to teach mankind to subdue the earth and use its riches for good. The nice thing about each of them is this: it gets right to the point.Christians disagree about which point this one is. In our day we are, sadly, all too familiar with those so greedy that they not only refuse to share with others but are willing to take anything from anyone by any means. Romans 13:9 “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as … As Shakespeare put it in Othello: “Who steals my purse steals trash; ‘tis something, nothing, ‘twas mine, ‘tis his. Growing up, his father’s business had failed copyright INFRINGEMENT is stealing Does your church or conference. Of those who did not pay their offerings to the point.Christians disagree about which point thou shalt not steal one is set sins. 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